Tennessee - NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor Exam Study Guide
This guide covers what you need for the Tennessee - NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor exam: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics it tests, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a plan to prepare. Prov gives the exam.
Tennessee - NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor Exam at a Glance
Here are the exam's key facts from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 115 questions |
| Time limit | 5 hours |
| Passing score | a minimum score of 73 |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $53 |
On exam day
- A current, valid, government-issued photo ID is required, and candidates must also sign the log and be photographed.
- Candidates should arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment.
- References are inspected before entry, any edition of a listed reference may be used, and books with handwritten notes, moveable tabs, Post-its, photocopies, or test-prep guides are not allowed.
- Highlighting and permanent tabs are allowed; handwritten notes and moveable tabs are not.
- Simple 4-function calculators are permitted and a simple calculator is built into the test.
- Communication devices and other personal items are prohibited in the testing room, while approved references and a simple calculator are allowed.
References you may bring
- International Building Code (2021)
- NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management (14th)
- NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code 2023
- Study Guide for Commercial Building Contractor (2024)
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Candidates register and schedule online at Prov's website or by calling Prov at 866-720-7768.
- Only the CMC and CMC-A examinations require Board approval before a candidate may schedule.
- Changes or cancellations must be made at least three business days before the test date, and rescheduling by that deadline is free.
- Late arrivals are turned away and forfeit their fees, as do candidates who fail to appear.
- Results are reported immediately by email with a numerical score and pass/fail result, plus a diagnostic report for candidates who fail.
- Failed exams may be retaken an unlimited number of times with no waiting period, at $53 per attempt.
- Passing candidates must submit a license application to the Board, which decides whether they qualify for licensure.
Source: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors Candidate Information Bulletin, TNCONT_CIB 2026.08.18. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the Tennessee - NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor Exam Covers
The official content outline has 12 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| General Requirements | 25 | 22% |
| Site Construction | 15 | 13% |
| Concrete | 6 | 5% |
| Masonry | 4 | 3% |
| Metals | 6 | 5% |
| Wood | 5 | 4% |
| Thermal and Moisture Protection | 5 | 4% |
| Doors, Windows, and Glazing | 4 | 3% |
| Finishes | 5 | 4% |
| Mechanical and Plumbing Systems | 6 | 5% |
| Electrical Systems | 3 | 3% |
| Procurement and Contracting Requirements | 31 | 27% |
How to Prepare for the Tennessee - NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor Exam
Start with the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are your main study tool. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Learn where things are. Read the table of contents and the index of each book until you know where every major subject lives. On test day, finding an answer fast matters more than memorizing it.
Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Spend most of your time on the biggest topics. Procurement and Contracting Requirements and General Requirements make up 49% of the exam.
Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 37 seconds per question.
Aim to pass more than once. One passing score can be luck. Several in a row means you're ready.
Reference Books for the Tennessee - NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor Exam
Where to get them:
On Test Day
- Go through the whole exam first. Answer every question you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions, but some lock the questions you've seen once you take a break, so work your bookmarks before any break.
- Then go back to your bookmarks and work them out.
- Don't let one question eat your time. You have 5 hours for 115 questions, which is about 2 minutes 37 seconds per question.
- Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
On an open-book exam, the winners aren't the smartest people in the room — they're the fastest at finding answers. Buy the required book, practice with it open, and tab and highlight each section the first time a question sends you there. Learn the index and table of contents until you can land on any topic in seconds. That speed is what separates a pass from a fail.
On an open-book exam, work through every question once: answer the ones you know and skip the ones you don't. Then go back to the ones you flagged. You can bookmark questions for later review, just like on our exams — and don't sink too much time into any single question. The clock is still running.
Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use your exam's candidate bulletin as your roadmap for what's tested, and spend your time on finding-it-fast skills over rote memorization. In practice, aim for three clean passes at 80% or higher — setting your practice bar above the real cut score gives you a comfortable margin on test day.
Practicing against a ticking clock is the best way to beat exam-clock anxiety. Use these timed tests to build your pacing, so you learn to move steadily and never burn too long on a single question. By test day, the format feels routine.
Our practice exam is specifically designed to mimic the testing conditions at all exam centers. While untimed PDF study guides might help with studying, they don’t prepare you for the challenge of managing your time during an actual test.
Sample Tennessee - NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor Practice Questions
These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Concrete
Question: A technician has just obtained a composite sample of fresh concrete from the ready-mix truck on your commercial job site and moved it to the testing area. Slump and air-content testing must be started within what time after the sample is obtained?
- A. 5 minutes
- B. 30 minutes
- C. 10 minutes
- D. 15 minutes
Correct Answer: A
The ASTM C172 sampling practice requires that slump and/or air-content testing begin within five minutes of obtaining the sample, with cylinder or beam casting started within 15 minutes. (Study Guide for Commercial Building Contractor, Module 23212, Section 3.2.1.)
Reference: Study Guide for Commercial Building Contractor, Module 23212 Properties of Concrete, Section 3.2.1
Sample 2 — Metals
Question: On a commercial steel-framed building, the connections provisions of the building code's steel chapter cross-reference the special inspection requirements for which pair of field operations?
- A. Plumbing-up and temporary bracing removal
- B. Shear stud spacing and deck seam fastening
- C. Anchor rod grouting and base plate leveling
- D. Welding and installation of high-strength bolts
Correct Answer: D
IBC 2021 Section 2204.1 directs the reader to the special inspection provisions for welding, and Section 2204.2 directs the reader to the special inspection provisions for the installation of high-strength bolts (both referencing Section 1705.2). Grouting, leveling, deck fastening, plumbing-up and bracing removal are not the operations cross-referenced in these connection provisions.
Reference: IBC 2021 Sections 2204.1 and 2204.2
Sample 3 — Mechanical and Plumbing Systems
Question: You are detailing the public toilet rooms of an office building using wall-hung water closets. What is the minimum required depth of each water closet compartment?
- A. 60 inches
- B. 56 inches
- C. 66 inches
- D. 48 inches
Correct Answer: B
IBC Section 2903.1.1 requires water closet compartments to be not less than 30 inches wide and 56 inches deep for wall-hung water closets; floor-mounted water closets require a 60-inch depth.
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 2903.1.1
Sample 4 — Wood
Question: You are the general contractor on a commercial building using long-span metal-plate-connected wood roof trusses. The owner must contract with a qualified registered design professional for the design of temporary installation restraint and diagonal bracing and for permanent individual truss member restraint and bracing when trusses have clear spans of at least what length?
- A. 80 feet
- B. 40 feet
- C. 30 feet
- D. 60 feet
Correct Answer: D
IBC 2021, Section 2303.4.1.3 requires the owner or owner's authorized agent to contract with a qualified registered design professional for the temporary installation restraint/diagonal bracing and the PITMR and PITMDB for all trusses with clear spans of 60 feet or greater.
Reference: IBC 2021 Section 2303.4.1.3
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF shows you questions. It doesn't show you the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break the score down by outline topic so you know what to study next.
Start Practicing
Take the free Tennessee - NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor practice exam to see where you stand, then work through the topics that need attention. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.